JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The executive committee of JEA’s Board of Directors made an unusual -- but expected -- move on Monday, opting to forego the traditional succession of leadership as controversies swirl around the city-owned utility.
The committee settles on the “slate” of leadership for the next year, which then must be approved by the full Board.
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Typically, the process is pretty mundane, with the vice chair becoming the chair the following year.
But events last week threw that traditional path into question when the current Vice Chair Ricardo “Rick” Morales III publicly voiced his doubts to the Board about the leadership of JEA CEO Vickie Cavey.
During last Tuesday’s meeting, Morales asked the board to consider an independent, external review of JEA leadership, saying he had heard over the previous six weeks from “multiple senior leaders” who complained of micro-managing and declining morale, calling it a “toxic” workplace culture.
The board decided against an external review and voted 6 to 1 to back Cavey’s leadership -- with the one “no” vote coming from Morales.
Morales was again the lone voice of dissent on Monday, when current Chair Joseph DiSalvo called on the committee to opt for a different plan and not move Morales up to chair next year.
Instead, the committee approved current secretary MG Orender to become chair next year, with Arthur L. Adams Jr. as vice chair and Donald “Worth” McArthur as secretary.
Again, those choices must be confirmed by the whole board at its next meeting.
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These decisions on leadership for the board came after recent controversies again plagued the utility.
Text messages from City Council President Kevin Carrico referencing a “big favor” tied to a board appointment have sparked subpoenas and political finger-pointing, which eventually led to allegations about Cavey’s leadership and JEA’s workplace culture.